Line pressure opened self-closing valve



Oct. 24, 1944. w, MEYER 2,31,22

LINE PRESSURE OPENED SELF-CLQSING VALVE Filed May 12, 1943 2 sneet-sheet 1 Oct. 24, 1944. w. MEYER 9 L LINE PRESSURE OPENED SELF-CLOSING VALVE 'Filed May 12, 194:5 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JBfifZZiam H2161} Patented Oct. 24, 1944 LINE PRESSURE OPENED SELF-CLOSING VALVE William Meyer, East Orange, N. .J., assignor to Wheaton Brass Works, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 12, 1943, Serial No. 486,647

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in selfclosing valves; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of selfclosing valve provided with means to apply the fluid pressure of the supply line serving the same to its valve member, whereby to open 'the latter.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel construction of self-closing valve having manipulatable control means for applying the pressure of the fluid supply line, by which the valve is served, to the valve closure member, whereby to move the latter to valve port opening position.

The invention has for a further object to provide, in a self-closing valve, a hollow movable valve member having a cylinder chamber and a stationary piston 'or plunger entered in the latter, together with manipulatable fluid by-pass means for delivering fluid at supply line pressure into said cylinder chamber, between the same and said piston or plunger, whereby to apply such supply line pressure to the valve member for moving the same to open position.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the iollowing detailed description of the, same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to this invention, showing its movable valve member in closed position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the same, showing its valve member in open position; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal "sectional view, taken on line 3--3 in Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to said drawings, the valve structure as therein illustratively shown, comprises a valve casing or housing ll] of suitable shape, the interior of which is subdivided by a transverse partition -l| having formed therein a valve port 12, above which is the valve intake chamber [3, and below which is the valve outlet chamber I4. Leading laterally into the intake chamber I3 is a suitably formed intake connection l5 to which a fluid supply pipe (not shown) may be suitablycoupled or joined; andleading from the outlet chamber [4 is a suitably formed discharge connection l6 to which a fluid discharge pipe (not shown) may be suitably coupled or joined. Formed onthe upper side of the partition ll,

and around the valve port i2 therein, is an annular chamfered valve seat I1. I Suitably connected with the top of the valve casing or housing It], in axially aligned relation to and above the valve port I2, is a bonnet iii of reduced diameter. The interior of said bonnet opens downwardly into the valve intake chamber l3, and said interior provides a guide cylinder l9.

Cooperative with said valve port l2 and its valve seat I1 is the hollow body 2!] of movable valve member, the same being formed to provide an interior cylinder chamber 2| having a downwardly open end, but-closed at its upper'end by an end wall 22. Said valve member body 20 and the interior of said guide cylinder I!) are conformable -in cross sectional shape (which is preferably circular), so that the upper end portion of the former is slidably received in the latter so as .to guide the movements of said valve member in a path axially aligned relative to the valve port l2. The upper extremity 23 of said valve member body 20 is of reduced diameter. Affixed to the upper extremity of said valve member body 20, by suitable means such e. g. as the keeper plate 24, stud 25 and nut 26, is a sealing washer 21 of suitable flexible material, the same having a dependent peripheral skirt 28 to slidingly hug the walls of said guide cylinder ill, to thereby seal the interior of the latter against communication with the intake chamber [3, and against admission of fluid from said intake chamber I3 into said guide cylinder interior. Said bonnet I8 is provided with 'a suitable air vent 29 which is open to the atmosphere. Suitably aflixed to the lower end of said valve member body 2!] is an annular valve washer 30, the same being preferably made of a material or composition sufficiently soft to compress conformingly and sealingly to the valve seat [1, when the valve member is engaged therewith in valve port closing position. ,Arranged between the end of said bonnet l8 and the upper end of said valve member body 20 is a compression spring 3|, which is adapted I to yieldably exert a downward thrust upon said valve member, whereby to move the valve body 20 and its valve washer 30 down upon the valve seat I! and in closed relation to the valve port l2.

Formed in connection with the valve casing or housing l8 below the partition H as a fluid bypassvalve housing 32 which is subdivided by a vertical partition 33, outwardly of which is a by-pass intake chamber 34 and inwardly of which is aby-pass outlet chamber 35. Formed in said partitionv 22 is a by-pass valve port 36, provided at its by-pass intake chamber facing side with a raised annular valve seat 31, which surrounds the margin of said port 36. The outer end of said by-pass intake chamber 34 opens exteriorly of the valve housing or casing H), but is closed by a removable closure cap 38, which is suitably aflixed to the exterior end of the bypass valve housing32. Extending downwardly through the partition I I of the valve housing or casing I is a fluid delivery passage 39 leading from the main valve intake chamber |3 into the by-pass valve intake chamber 34. Connected with the interior part of the by-pass valve housing 32 is an extension 40 disposed beneath the main valve' port I2 so as to intersect the axis thereof, and formed in this extension 40 is a discharge passage 4| leading from the by-pass outlet chamber 35. Aflixed to said extension 40, to project upwardly therefrom, and to pass axially through the main valve port I 2 into the cylinder chamber 2| of the main valve body 20, is the tubular stem 42 of a stationary piston or plunger 43. Said stationary piston or plunger 43 is entered in said cylinder chamber 2| of the main valve body 20. Said tubular stem 42 provides a passage 44 in communication between the discharge passage 4| of the by-pass outlet chamber 35 and the interior of the cylinder chamber 2| of the main valve body 20 above the piston or plunger 43. Said piston or plunger 43 includes a piston washer 45 of comparatively flexible material, having an upstanding peripheral skirt 46 to slidingly hug the walls of said main valve cylinder chamber 2|, whereby to serve as a leakproof seal between the latter and said piston or plunger 43.

The by-pass valve port 36 is normally closed by a by-pass valve member 41, the outer end of the stem 48 of which is slidably supported and guided in a guide socket 49, with which the closure cap 38 of the housing 32 is provided. Mounted around the outer portion of said stem 48, between said closure cap 38 and the by-pass valve member 41, is a compression spring 49 which is ada ted to yieldably exert an inward thrust upon said by-pass valve member, whereby to move the latter against the valve seat 31 and in normal closed relation to the by-pass valve port 36. The inner end portion of the valve stem 48 projects through the by-pass valve port 36. and extends into said by-pass outlet chamber 35, and the same is provided with a diametrically enlarged free end portion adapted to form a drain valve casing 50. Said drain valve casing 50 slidably extends through an opening provided in the inner end wall 52 of the by-pass valve housing 32, whereby to project into the outlet chamber M of the main valve housing or casing l0. Said drain valve casing 50 is provided with an outwardly endw'ise open axial bore which forms a drain valve chamber 53. Formed in the wall of said drain valve casing 50 are one or more drain intake ports 54 which provide communication between the inward interior of said drain valve chamber 53 and the interior of said by-pass valve housing outlet chamber 35. Entered in the drain valve chamber 53, through its open end. is a movable drain valve 55 which is telesco ically slidable therein with a close fit. This drain valve 55 is provided with an axial outlet passage 56. terminating adjacent to the outer end of the. drain valve body in lateral discharge port means 51 which communicate with the interior of the main valve outlet chamber l4. At its outer extremity, said drain valve 55 is provided with a diametrically enlarged head 58, and mounted around the outwardly projecting portion of said drain valve body and said head 58 is a compression spring 59 which is adapted to yieldably exert an outwardly moving thrust upon the drain valve 55, whereby to normally uncover the drain intake ports 54, when the by-pass valve member 41 is disposed in bypass valve port closing position.

Means are provided for closing the drain valve 55 and opening the by-pass valve member 41 by manual operation. This means comprises a spindle 60 journaled to extend transversely through the outlet chamber M of the main valve shown) in a manner well known in the art, and

the exterior portion of the spindle is optionally provided with a fixed or detachable hand lever means 6| for manually rotating the spindle. Fixed on the spindle, so as to turn therewith, is a thrust member or cam 62. Said thrust member or cam, when rotated in proper direction, is adapted to impart an outward axial thrust upon the drain and by-pass valve means to close the one and open the other.

To cause the main valve to open, the operator swings upward the hand lever 6|, thus rotating the thrust member or cam 62 in direction to thrust against the drain and bypass valve means. The first effect of such operative thrust is to initially slide inward the drain valve 55 to the limit of its inward movement, whereby its inner end passes and blocks off the drain intake ports 54. After the drain valve 55 reaches the limit of such inward movement, the thrust of the cam 62 thereupon is transmitted to the by-pass valve stem 48, whereby to impart movement thereto which carries the by-pass valve member 41 away from the seat 31, and thus opens the by-pass valve port 36. Upon opening of the by-pass valve port 36, the fluid in the main valve intake chamber l3, which is under the pressure of the fluid supply line by which said main valve is served, is caused, by such pressure, to flow through the delivery passage 39, the by-pass intake chamber 34 and open by-pass valve port 35 into the by-pass outlet chamber 35. Escape from the by-pass outlet chamber 35 being prevented by the closure of the drain valve means, the fluid flows from said by-pass outlet chamber 35 through the discharge passage 4|, the piston or plunger stem passage 44 into the main valve cylinder chamber 2|, between the closed upper end of the latter and the stationary piston or plunger 43. The pressure of fluid thus admitted to the main valve cylinder chamber 2| exerts an upwardly moving thrust upon the main valve body 20 against the tension of the main valve closing spring 3|, thereby causing the main valve body 20 to rise, and thus open the main valve port |2 to the outward flow of fluid from the supply line through the main valve. The opening movement of the main valve body is not obstructed by compression of air within the bonnet 8, since the interior of the latter is vented by the vent 29 which is open to the atmosphere.

So long as .the by-pass valve means is held open, by the operators actuation of the control cam, the main valve will remain open to outward flow of fluid therethrough. To cause the main valve to close, the operator releases and swings back the hand lever 62, thus returning the thrust member or cam 62 to normal initial position, whereby the by-pass valve will close and the drain valve will open. The by-pass valve-member Wurst 'clo's'es *under' the terminal pressure*of its closingspring: 49 thus cutting off flow 1 of" fluid under supply line *pr'essu-re into-the b y' pass outlet chamber 35 A'fter'th'e by ass valve'mem-ber 47 thuscleses'; the" drainyalve 55 continues outward movement under the thrust of itsspring 59jth'ereby opening the drain intake ports 54 for communication with the discharge passages BIS-51 of said drain valve 55. The closing of the by-pass valve member 4! shuts oil flow of fluid under supply line pressure into the by-pass outlet chamber 35, and thus drops the pressure of fluid in the main valve cylinder chamber 2|, so that the main valve closing spring 3| immediately exerts its closing thrust on the main valve to carry the same down to main valve port closing position. As the main valve body 20 moves downward, the fluid in its cylinder chamber 2| will be expelled through the piston or plunger passage 4'4, the passage 4|, and bypass outlet chamber 35 to be drained therefrom, through the drain intake ports 54 and drain valve discharge passages 565l, into the main valve outlet chamber l4. Such expulsion and draining of fluid from the main valve cylinder cham ber may be utilized as a check upon the closing movement of the main valve, whereby to cause slow closing thereof and consequent prevention of sudden back pressure shock in the supply line, so that occurrence of water-hammer is avoided.

The valve of this invention has the advantage of being veryeasily operated, especially when used in lines carrying fluid at comparatively high pressure, since the fluid pressure itself is utilized to raise the main valve to open position, and

the operator is required to use but little force in turning the control thrust member or cam 62. The valve of this invention is serviceable in connection with any fluid supply line wherein the fluid pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure plus the tensional pressure of the main valve closing spring 3| which is employed in any given case.

I am aware that changes could be made in the constructions above set forth, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention' could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the following claims. contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a valve structure provided with a port described comprising, a by-pass valve housing within the valve structure, said housing being subdivided by a wall to provide a by-pass intake chamber in communication with the intake side It is therefore intended that all matter of the valve structure and an outlet chamber communicating with the hollow valve through the passage with which the latters cooperative piston is provided. said wall having a by-pass port, a normally closed by-pass port shut-off valve. a normally open drain valve leading from said bypass outlet chamber to the outlet side of said valve structure, means to cooperatively relate said drain a valve and shut ofi valve; wherebyclosing movement of i the former-- eficts opening move merit of the latter; arotatable cam cooperative wan said drain valve for actuating the same) a; spindle for mounting'said cam,- said spindle having an end" portion projecting externallyfrom the valve structure; and manipulatable lever means on said external end portion of said spindle.

2. In a valve structure provided with a port intermediate its intake and outlet sides adapted to be opened and closed by a hollow valve body slidably related to a stationary piston, said piston having a fluid passage communicating with the interior of said valve body, means to control flow of fluid under pressure, which enters the valve structure from a supply thereof, into and out of said valve body interior for the purposes described comprising, a by-pass valve housing within the valve structure, said housing being subdivided by a wall to provide a by-pass intake chamber in communication with the intake side of the valve structure and an outlet chamber communicating with the hollow valve body through the passage with which the latters cooperative piston is provided, said wall having a by-pass, port, a by-pass valve movable to open and close said by-pass port, a slidably supported stem to carry said by-pass valve, the inner end portion of said stem being formed to provide a drain valve casing having a drain valve chamber provided with drain intake means leading thereinto from said by-pass outlet chamber, a drain valve axially movable in said drain valve chamber to open and close said drain intake means, the exterior end of said drain valve being disposed to project into the interior of the outlet side of said valve structure, said drain valve having fluid discharge passage means to communicate between said drain valve chamber and the outlet side of said valve structure, and manipulatable means to axially move said drain valve to first close said drain intake means and then transmit motion to said stem to open said bypass valve.

3. In a valve structure provided with a port intermediate its intake and outlet sides adapted to be opened and closed by a hollow valve body slidably related to a stationary piston, said piston having a fluid passage communicating with the interior of said valve body, means to control flow of fluid under pressure, which enters the valve structure from a supply thereof, into and out of said valve body interior for the purposes described comprising, a by-pass valve housing within the valve structure, said housing being subdivided by a wall to provide a by-pass intake chamber in communication with the intake side of the valve structure and an outlet chamber communicating with the hollow valve body through the passage with which the latters co-' operative piston is provided, said wall having a by-pass port, a by-pass valve movable to open and close said by-pass port, a slidably supported stem to carry said by-pass valve, the inner end portion of said stem being formed to provide a drain valve casing having a drain valve chamber provided with drain intake means leading thereinto from said by-pass outlet chamber, a drain valve axially movable in said drain valve chamber to open and close said drain intake means, the exterior end of said drain valve being disposed to project into the interior of the outlet side of said valve structure, said drain valve having fluid discharge passage means to communible cam within the valve structure interior, a

'cate between said drain valve chamber and the spindle for mounting said cam, said spindle havoutlet side of said valve structure, and manipuing an end portion projecting externally from the latable means to axially move said drain valve to valve structure, and manipulatable lever means first close said drain intake means and then 5 on said external end portion of said spindle. transmit motion tosaid stem to open said bypass valve, said latter means comprising a rotata- I WILLIAM MEYER 

